Tale of working-class heartache at Ribchester Village Hall

RATS is throwing light on the darker side of the party life with its latest production.

The theatre group is taking another swing at John Godber’s whirlwind of a play, Shakers.

Director Keith Flood said: “RATS has done quite a few of Godber’s plays over the years: Happy Families, Departures, Bouncers (brother play of Shakers) and this is our second shot at this hilarious and poignant show, written in partnership with his partner, Jane Thornton.”

The tale highlights the joys and woes of working-class life seen through the eyes of four waitresses getting ready to hit the town.

Originally set in the 1980s in a cocktail bar in a northern town, the production is undergoing a fabulous 90s-style makeover.

This demanding show features just four actresses, who play not only the waitresses but also their customers.

It’s by no means an easy job for the cast, but fortunately Keith has assembled a strong team to put audiences in the mood to party.

“We first did Shakers in 2005 ,with a different cast, of course: Viki Mason; Rebecca Parkinson; Caroline Hindle; and Bryony Frost,” he said.